Great Idea, God!

This week I’ve been really struck with the sheer brilliance that is the Church.  As a person who really appreciates great design and art, I’ve come to believe that the Church is an amazing example of both.  Chalk that one up to the ultimate Creator being involved.

God knew what he was doing when he established the Church as the gathering of redeemed. You can see it was part of his plan from the very beginning when Paul points out that the marriage of man and woman speaks of Jesus and the Church, and not the other way around.

“’Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:31-32)

What is striking and truly baffling to me is how many Christians see it as an optional part of their Christian faith to be involved in the local church.

A particular situation this week has reminded me that God in His sovereignty has made the Church to be a place other Christians can walk with you through the most impossible of situations.  The answer to your prayers can be sitting down the row from you.  You can go anywhere in the world where the light of the gospel has been shown, and be among brothers and sisters in Christ.

But to experience this, you have to be a part of the Church; namely by being involved in your local church.  A question for those of you who are not: how are you making it?  Seriously, how can you keep the faith through life’s trials; not just surviving, but thriving?  Do yourself and your faith a favor and get to church…and get involved.

“If the church is central to God’s purpose as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surely also be central to our lives.  How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously?  How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the center?”

-John Stott